[Time Trowel] There is more to archaeology than Indiana Jones’ pistol and whip

A trowel (/ˈtraʊ.əl/), in the hands of an archaeologist, is like a trusty sidekick – a tiny, yet mighty, instrument that uncovers ancient secrets, one well-placed scoop at a time. It’s the Sherlock Holmes of the excavation site, revealing clues about the past with every delicate swipe.

My fascination with archaeology started in the early 1980s when I watched Temple of Doom in a Sorsogon cinema. Soon after, my parents provided me with a children’s encyclopedia that kindled my lifelong love for reading...